Structure or framing of internal combustion engines



W. F., RABBIDGE STRUCTUREJ OR FRAMING OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed March 2'7, 1925 I 35 Figure 1.

Patented Aug. 11, 1931' UN EDSTAT PATENT roams,

: WILLIAM FLOYD RABBIDGE, OF ULVEBSTON, ENGLAND, AssIGNoa rovrokERsmiM- rrnn, or WESTMINSTER, ENGLANDLAY BRITISH COMPANY; I

s'rrwc'rnnn on FRAMING or mj mmni mgesmn nncrnns.

Application filed March 27, 1925, Serial No. 18,756; 5min GrcatBritain November fi'i, 1924, a,

This invention relates to the main structure or framing of multi-cyhnder lnternal combustlon engines of large slze, more especially light weight trunk-piston'engines,

i approximately vertical sections mounted on a separate bedplate and having legs spanning the main bearings, the adjacent frame sections (half arched) meeting at the top in a transverse joint (athwartship) at the centre of each cylinder, where they are bolted together. The frame sections when secured together form a rigid entablature at the upper part of the engine and the cylinder covers may be bolted to the entablature directly or through a sandwich plate.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a side elevation of an engine of the largest size with framing in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of a frame section of the engine.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a frame section of an engine of smaller size, shown on a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a plan of the framing shown in Figure 5 is a cross section of the leg of one form of frame section.

Figure 6 is a cross section of the leg of a modified form of frame section. a

Figure 7 is a section on the centre line X-X Figure 3 showing the manner of supporting a guide plate for the lower ends of the cylinders;

Each vertical frame section A consists of a pair of legs disposed one on each side of the engine crank shaft, a half arch a on each side of the upper portion of each leg or, in the case of the end sections, a half-arch on one side of each leg, the half-arches hav- I5 ing vertical flanges a and a top plate a cast with and connecting the tops of the legs and half-arches. The top plate a is of the shapeshown inplan in Figure 4 having a semicircularrecess a in each of the two-sides which liesathwartships, and adjacent to the edge of each O'fWhich recesses is a downwardly extending flange a integral "with the top plate aand'enlarged at intervals as at a The back and front legs of the framesections, on opposite sides of the mainbearings d,gmay 6 for increased stiffness be tied together by a girder E. a

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2 'and4, the frame sections are divided longitudinally, thetop platea withits flanges a having a joint a and the girder E a oint e. For this "purpose the adjacent ends ofthe flanges a are provided with longitudinall extending portions a"? (Figures 2 and 43' through which boltsa are-passed to secure the two'halves of the frame sections together. The other endsof the flanges were joined to the flanges a on the half arches a 'andthe leg, halftop plate, halfgirder E, half-arch a with its'flange a, and flange a of each half section are formed integrally by: casting. The frame sections A are mounted on the bedplate D and span the main bearings d and are secured together atthe'joi'nts a by bolts a, the top plates a forming a ridged platform or fentablature, the recesses a of adj acent section's combining to form circular openings for the engine cylinders B, the lower ends of which extend" downwardly between the legs of the frame sections A and pass through a guidegplate 6 supported on the girders E. Thecylindercovers C, C are "secured tothe" entab lature directly, or through a sandwich plate 9 and by means such as bolts 0 passing, through holes a in the top-plates a forming the entablature the holes a passing into the aforesaid enlargements a of the flange a; 'Figure7 is a section through r ent the intermediate girders E with a pair of adjacent guide plates'e which have large'apertures 'through' which the cylinders' B'e'x'tend; The guide plates'e rest on flanges at the edges ofthe girders E. The legs of the framing shown inFigures 1, 2 and 4' may be iofhollowrectangular cross sec- 196 tion as indicated in Figure 5. Long tie bars or bolts a are used to tie the entablature to the bedplate, the bolts a passing through the legs of the frame sections as indicated in Figure 2 and through the bolt holes a (Figure 4) the frame sections in such a case being designed to afford the necessary space for the bolts. I

In the modification shown in Figure 3, which is an end elevation of a frame section of an engine of smaller size, each frame section is formed in one, that is, there are no longitudinal joints a and a. This engine comprises a number of frame sections similar to, and secured together in the same manner as, those of the larger engine above described. Furthermore, in engines of smaller size the legs of the frame might be of an H cross section as indicated in Figure 6. Tie bars or bolts, such as those indicated at a in the construction according to Figures 1, 2 and 4, are not employed in the engine illustrated in Figure 3 as the vertical forces, except in engines of the largest size, are usually resisted by the cast frame sections unaided.

I claim: 7

1. In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine structure, a bedplate having bearings for the engine crank shaft, a plurality of vertical frame sections, each comgine cylinder when the latter is placed in position.

4. In a multi-cylinder engine structure as in claim 1, a plurality of long substantially prising two vapproximately vertical legs mounted on the said bedplate, a top plate connecting the legs and spanning the said crank shaft bearings and half-arched tops on adjacent sections meeting in joints ex- I tending transversely to the shaft axis, means for connecting the section tops at the said joints whereby the sections co-operate ,to form a rigid entablature for the'complete multi-cylinder engine, and cylinders passing through and supported upon the said entab- I lature.

2. In a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine structure, a bedplate having bearings for the. engine crank shaft, a plurality of vertical frame sections, each comprising two approximately vertical legs mounted on the said bedplate and having transverse extensions at their upper ends meeting in a longitudinal joint and spanning the said crank shaft bearings, and half-arched tops terminating the said legs, which tops of adjacent sections meet in joints extending transversely to the shaft axis, means for connecting the section tops at the said joints whereby the sections cooperate to form a rigid entablature for the complete multi-cylinder engine, and cylinders passing through and supported upon the said rigid entablature.

3. In an engine structure as in claim 1, a

girder attached to and tying together the 

